Page 84 of Embers of Ruin

“They say kisses from a king are healing.”

“No one has ever said that,” I reply, laughing despite myself.

I don't want to laugh with him. I don't want this to feel so easy. Yet here we are.

“Thanks for that. My entire arm will probably fall off now.”

The corner of his mouth lifts. My gaze lingers there for a heartbeat before finding his eyes again. He reaches up, his fingers brushing a loose curl from my face.

“Beautiful…” he murmurs, winding the curl gently around his finger.

“Thorin—”

His hand slides to my cheek before I can finish. I lean into the warmth of his palm before I can stop myself, my breath catching as I notice his eyes have turned completely silver. He closes the distance between us until his lips hover beside my ear.

“I can hear your heartbeat, Lyra,” he whispers.

“How unfortunate for you, then. The sound must drive you insane.”

A quiet laugh rumbles in his chest. “Oh, it is absolute torture.”

His lips are close enough that one more breath would bring them against mine. I don't give him the chance. I close the distance myself, sliding a hand to the back of his neck and pulling him into a kiss so fierce it feels as though my entire body has caught fire.

I don't even have time to think about what I'm doing, and I barely notice the persistent ache in my wrist.

Mine.

The thought echoes through my mind, but I dismiss it because it isn't my own. It's probably a concussion from being thrown to the ground so many times this week. I try to shove the thought aside, but then I hear—rather, feel—my magic answer.

Yes.

I have no idea what that means, and I don't question it. All I know is that Thorin's hands roam over my body, and every part of me aches for the gentle graze of his fingers against my skin. I climb onto his lap, capturing his lower lip in a kiss as a soft moan escapes me.

“You smell delicious,” he murmurs.

My body is practically vibrating for him and I don’t question it. I place myself gently atop him, taking his bottom lip between mine as I suck, moaning as his fingers trail up my thighs until one finger is making slow circles on the sensitive bundle of nerves. He presses down gently, just enough pressure to make me gasp.

His every movement, the unwavering eye contact, is enough to drive me insane. No more teasing. I want him now.

“I hate you, Thorin,” I whisper breathlessly.

His expression turns positively devilish, and it’s enough to undo me.

“I’ve never heard anyone lie so unconvincingly.” He continues the slow circles, adding just enough pressure to make my body react.

He’s teased me long enough. It’s my turn. Slowly, I lift the sheer nightgown over my body, never breaking eye contact. His breath catches, and his gaze moves over me with unmistakable hunger.

“Beautiful. You are fucking exquisite, Lyra,” he says, and the rough edge to his voice makes me grind closer on him.

I press my sex against his length and inhale sharply. Gods, he’s huge. I don’t know how he’s going to fit, but I want him to break me. I want him to claim every part of my body. The moan that escapes my lips is enough to alert any guards on duty tonight. I couldn’t care less. I stroke his length, panting as the friction from rubbing my clit against the head of his cock builds in my stomach.

“Please,” I whisper, pleading with my eyes. Thorin knows exactly what I want. I reach between us, gliding a delicate finger over my swollen lips. My wetness coats his trousers, and I bring my finger to his mouth, teasing as I tug his bottom lip down. He captures my finger in his mouth, sucking my juices off of it and humming as if it’s the most delicious thing he’s ever tasted. I thread my fingers through his hair as I capture his mouth in a kiss that consumes us.

“You taste like paradise,” he says, voice low and husky.

And then he stops completely, looking up at me. I want to whine at the loss of contact. I don’t want him to stop. I want him.

For a man who has spent weeks telling me I belong to him, his hesitation catches me off guard. His eyes search mine and I immediately know what he's asking.